Who is Michael Burke? Karen Danczuk’s brother and convicted rapist – here’s what we know
MICHAEL Burke, 38, was convicted of eight rapes against three different victims, including his own sister, Karen Danczuk.
She broke down in court and described him as a "monster" who had "robbed me of my childhood";.
The sick criminal is now banged up behind bars for the next 15 years for his vile crimes after he was convicted in Manchester.
But who is this sick criminal who brought so much misery to his sister and others for so long?
The Sun is here to tell you all you need to know about this vile rapist.
Who is Michael Burke?
Michael Burke, 38, is the older brother of 'selfie queen' Karen Danczuk - the estranged wife of Labour MP Simon Danczuk.
He is the second eldest of taxi driver Martin Burke - originally from Galway, Ireland - and wife Susan's five children, of whom Karen is the youngest.
They lived in a small end-of-terrace house in Rochdale, Manchester, but the couple's marriage broke down and Martin reportedly moved out of the family home in 1990.
Karen claims that it was around this time when her mother moved in one of her lovers and the abuse by her brother began, the reports.
The 33-year-old came forward with claims she had been raped and sexually abused by a family friend in February 2015, before later naming Burke as her attacker.
The divorced dad-of-three was arrested and questioned by Greater Manchester Police, but bailed pending further inquiries.
The security guard told the Daily Mail after his arrest: “I just told them the truth – that we had a good upbringing and that we all used to get on.
"I said I was closer to her [Karen] than my brothers. then they asked me things that no brother ever wants to be asked about their sister.
"It was really intimate stuff abut whether I had touched her. It made my stomach turn.”
What was Burke charged with?
Michael Burke was rearrested in April 2015 after 'new information came to light' and was charged with a a string of sex attacks relating to three victims.
The case was brought before a jury at Manchester Crown Court in November, where Burke denied all charges.
He claimed that he was the victim of “a conspiracy ” by the three complainants and added: “I will prove it eventually. These allegations have been wholly made up against me.”
The court heard how Burke was accused of 15 rapes, one attempted rape and one indecent assault against three females over an 18-year period starting from the early 1990s when he was a teenager.
A jury found Burke guilty of raping his sister three times when she was aged between nine and 11.
He was also convicted of four rapes of a second complainant when he was a teenager and she was 12 and 13 — and of raping a third woman of a similar age to himself between January 2008 and March 2010.
Burke shook his head while hearing evidence in the three-week trial and collapsed in the dock when the guilty verdict was read.
The judge told him a custodial sentence was "inevitable".
How long will he spend behind bars?
When it came to sentencing the remorseless 38-year-old was caged for 15-years.
Burke was described as “violent and controlling”, and was still “in full denial” with a “self justifying lack of insight” into his behaviour.
His “entrenched” views which posed a danger to women, the court heard.
Judge Andrew Gilbart said: “She was your little sister, over whom you held sway.
“Your actions affected her emotionally well into adulthood.
“As she put it, instead of looking back on her first sexual experience as something to be remembered fondly, she looked back on being raped by her brother before she reached puberty.
“You groomed her. Your little sister was your playmate and susceptible to anything you suggested. You have shown not a shred of remorse.”
Why did Karen Danczuk waive her right to anonymity?
The mum-of-two waived her right to anonymity in the hope it would encourage other victims of sexual abuse to come forward.
She gave an exclusive interview with The Sun branding her brother a "monster" for raping her as a girl.
Karen added: "He is sick, I hope he rots in hell. He robbed me of my childhood. I was so damaged, my education suffered and I’ve battled anxiety and depression in my adult life.”
The 33-year-old has become a celebrity in her own right following her marriage to MP Simon Danczuk, who she split from over claims he became jealous of the attention she was receiving from her revealing selfies.
She said that taking busty selfies became a way of dealing with the abuse she had suffered as a child.
Karen told this newspaper that her brother would target her on Sunday nights, because he knew that she wouldn't be wearing underwear as that was 'bath night'.
“I would always pretend to be asleep and lie with my back to him, facing the wall. I was terrified and confused but I didn’t know what else to do," she said.
Holding back tears, Karen said: “It was so sore. I remember screwing up my face trying not to cry and wishing for it to be over. I would not dare tell anyone.
“Now I’ve got children of my own that makes me feel sick. I was living in a hell-hole — there was no love in my house. It wasn’t a normal household.”
Karen, who now has a new partner named David Eescudero, tweeted a quote after the guilty outcome, which said: "Pain is temporary, victory is forever."
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